Amusement rides



Ja 2, 1962 w. D. KEITH ETAL AMUSEMENT RIDES 4 SheetsSheet 1 OriginalFiled Aug. 14, 1950 INVENTORS lane D. Kel fi'z.

AGENT W y Joh M Hal/owe BYQ Jan. 2, 1962 w. D. KEITH ETAL AMUSEMENTRIDES 4 Sheets-$heet 3 Original Filed Aug. 14, 1950 INVENTOR. Wa/andDKehh John V Hol/OWel/ Jan. 2, 1962 w. D. KEITH ETAL 3,01 88AMUSEMENT RIDES Original Filed Oct. 25, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WaylafidD.Ke1' 6% John IZHoJZoweJJ INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,015,488 AMUSEMENT RIDES Wayland D. Keith, R0. Box2446, Wichita Falls, Tex.,

and John V. Hollowell, Morganton, N.C.; said Holloweil assignor to saidKeith Application Oct. 25, 1954, Ser. No. 464,328, now Patent No.2,833,013, dated Apr. 21, 1959, which is a continuation of abandonedappiication Ser. No. 17 9,104, Aug. 14, 1950. Divided and thisapplication Dec. 31, 1957, Ser. No. 706,421

19 Claims. (Cl. 272-36) This application is a divisional application ofour prior application Ser. No. 464,328, filed Oct. 25,1954, forAmusement Rides, now Patent No. 2,883,013, which in turn is acontinuation of our application Ser. No. 179,104, filed August 14, 1950,now abandoned for Amusement Rides.

This invention relates to improvements in amusement rides and moreparticularly to amusement rides which operate about both the horizontaland vertical axes.

Various rides of this character have been proposed heretofore, but themechanical movement of these rides, for the most part, have failed tofurnish to the amusement seeker, the thrills and sensations they seek inthat type of amusement.

An object of this invention is to provide an amusement ride in which thevertical axis may be rotated in either direction independently of, or incooperation with the rotation of the arms about a horizontal axis, withthe arms each rotating in a different direction, and which arms may berotated about a horizontal axis in either direction.

Another object of this invention is to provide an amusement device inwhich the arms are adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis while thehorizontal axis is turned about a vertical axis and while these twomovements me being performed, a pair of cars, two on each end of eacharm, rotate about themselves.

Another object of this invention is to provide an amusement ride inwhich each end of each arm cradles a pair of cars thereon, the occupantsof which cars, at certain times during movement, face each other, and atother times, ride back to back.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an amusement ride inwhich the stern rotates and which stem is held in journaled, guidedrelation by upright members, which obviates the necessity of using guywires or the like.

With these objects in mind and others which will become manifest as thedescription proceeds, reference is e to be had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device embodying the invention,with parts broken away and shortened to show the details ofconstruction;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the device embodying theinvention, with parts broken away and shown in section to illustrate thedetails of construction;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, looking inthedirection indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a centering bearing;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the device embodying the invention, partly insection and with parts broken away to show the details of the brakingmechanism;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of FIG. 7, looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the amusement ride shown in loadingposition;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the device embodyingthe invention, showing the arms in a position 45 degrees from that shownin FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the device embodying the invention,showing the arms in a position degrees from that shown in FIG. 10.

With more detailed reference to the drawing the numeral 1 designates abase constructed of structural members such as H-beams or the like, andwhich base may be secured to a foundation 2 of concrete or the like, orit may be of suificient size and weight to obviate the necessity for afoundation. Upstanding ring member 3 is secured to the base 1, as bywelding or the like and has a rotary table base 4, which rotary tablebase is secured on the upper end of the ring member 3 and which ringmember has a bearing raceway therein to receive thrust bearings 5.Secured at spaced intervals around the periphery of rotary table base 4are brackets 6 upon which are journaled bearings 7 which act as bothradial and thrust bearings on the side and top of the rotary table 8 andto assist in the centering of the rotary table 8, because the annularflange 9 is in bearing relation with the outer periphery of the rotarytable 8. The bearings 7 serve as a ho1ddown element to prevent the stem10, which is welded or otherwise secured to the rotary table 8, fromtoppling over as result of unbalanced loads.

Ribs 11 are provided on the lower end of stem 10 and are secured theretoand to rotary table 8 so as to reinforce these members at the point ofinterconnection.

The upper end of the stem 10 has a platform 12 thereon, which platformissecured to the end of the stem and to ribs 13. Mounted on the platform12 are clamp members 14 which secure shaft 15 against rotation or .othermovement. The shaft 15 projects horizontally outward from platform 12and has hubs 16 journaled thereon, which hubs have sockets 17 radiallyspaced therearound, as at present illustrated, four sockets are shown,but it is to be understood that any suitable number may be used. Thesockets 17 are braced by gusset plates 18 and 19, which gusset platesare secured to the cylindrical portion of the hub 16 and to the socketmembers 17, as by welding or other suitable means.

The inner end of each of the hub members 16 may carry a member 19' onwhich sprockets 20 are secured, by welding or other suitable means.

Bifurcated arm members 21 are telescoped into a pair of sockets 17 inend to end relation, as will best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Pairs oftruss posts 22 are telescoped into other of the sockets 17 of hubs 16and which truss posts 22 extend sufficiently high to enable cables 23and 24 to converge at an angle near the outer extremity of arm 21 and toa portion of the arm intermediate the length thereof, respectively, tohold the arm against flexing under load. The cables 23 and 24 carryturnbuckles 25 and 26, respectively, which turnbuckles are secured tothe respective plates by bolts 27, which plates 28 are secured to theouter respective ends of the truss posts 22.

The outer end of each arm carries a T-rnember, generally designated at29, which is braced, and has socket members 30 spaced apart so as totelescope on the outer end of the bifurcated arm member 21. A T-rnemberof truss construction is mounted on the end of arm 21. A pair of beams33 of the truss construction are parallel and extend outward in eachdirection from the arm 21 and are spaced apart laterally and each has aninturned knob 32, which knobs form axles or pivot members on therespective ends thereof to form a journal mounting for the respectivecars 31. The axes of the respective pairs of inturned knobs beingparallel, bearing brackets 34 are secured to each side of each car andare fitted over inwardly projecting knobs 38 so as to serve as a journalbut will permit the cars to be maintained in an upright position at alltimes, regardless of the position of the arms.

The arms 21 are preferably of tubular construction and have transverseand diagonal braces 21a and 2117 at spaced intervals therealong so as togive each of the arms rigidity. The inner ends of the arms converge toform parallel portions that will fit in sockets 17, which ends arecloser together than the outer ends of the arms. The outer ends of thearms are substantially parallel and are spaced apart a sufiicientdistance to cradle car 31 therebetween, which car will seat two or threepeople with comfort. However, by having the arms converge into aparallel portion toward the hub, the shaft may be maintained to aminimum length to facilitate handling.

A second platform 35 is mounted on standards 36, which standards riseabove platform 12. This second platform 35 carries a motor 37, a fluiddrive unit 38 and a gear reducing unit, generally designated at 39. Thegear reduction unit 39 has a gear 40 driving a pinion 41, which in turndrives a second pinion gear 42. Pinion gears 41 and 42 are of equaldiameter and give a one to one ratio of shafts 43 and 44. The outer endof the shaft 43 is journaled in bearing 45 and the outer end of shaft 44is journaled in a bearing 46. Each of the shafts 43 and '44 carriessprockets 47 and 48, respectively, of the same diameter, which sprocketsdrive through chains 49 and 50 to sprockets 20 which are secured to thehub 16 through brake hub 19'.

With the pinions 41 and 42 in mesh and driven by gear '40, the pinionswill be caused to rotate in opposite directions, which will, in turn,cause arms 21 to rotate in opposite directions about a horizontal axisformed by thefshaft '15.

The hubs 16 are maintained against longitudinal movement by cap plates16a having cap screws 16b passing 'therethrough and screw threaded intothe end of horizontal shaft 15. A brake cable 51 extends from lever 52over pulleys 53 and 54 (FIG. 2) upward through the pipe 55 on which theelectrical slip ring commutator 56 is positioned. The cable 58 connectsto a swivel coupling 57, which cable 53 rotates with the stem, while thecable 51, below the swivel coupling 57, is maintained against rotation.The brake cable 58 continues upward over a pulley 59 to a singletreeequalizer 60, and upon the initial pull of the bralte cable 58, brakelever 61 will be moved against tension of brake release spring 62 tocause brake band '63 to engage brake drum 64 positioned on shaft 65intermediate motor 37 and fiuid drive coupling 38. This will slow orseize the shaft and cause one of the impeller blades Within the fluidcoupling 38 to slow or stop, thereby causing the opposed impeller bladewithin the fluid coupling 38, to generate a reactionary pressure to'slow shaft 66 a graduated amount so as to retard the speed of arms 21without causing any reactionary shock to the occupants of the cars,which cars are mounted on the arms, or to the material in the arms.

At the opposite end of the singletree member is connected a bolt member67 which has a spring 68 positioned intermediate the singletree and anut 69, so as to permit travel of the end of the singletree to which thebolt 69 connects, after the opposite end of the singletree has stopped.The bolt 67 connects with a lever 70, which lever connects to brake drum72. A brake band release spring 73, much stronger than the brake bandrelease spring 62, is connected to brake lever 70 so as to maintainbrake lever 79 against movement until brake band 63 has engaged brakedrum 64 against rotation. Upon movement of brake lever 79, positivebraking action is imparted by brake band 71 to brake drum 72,

through gear reduction unit 39, to hold shaft 66 against rotation, whichwill hold arms 21 in fixed position.

It will be appreciated that a slowing action may be accorded by brakeband 63 first engaging to cause the fluid in fluid coupling 33 to retardthe impeller connected to shaft 66 in a manner well understood in theart of fluid couplings. However, upon further movement of brake cable58, brake band 71 is engaged in a varying amount according to thepressure applied to the braking system. The brake may be appliedsuddenly for emergency action, or gradually, as desired.

Radial bearings 74 are mounted on adjustable brackets 75 on the upperface of the rotary table base. Screws 76 are provided for adjustingthese bearings for contact relation with rotary table 8, as will best beseen in FIGS. 1 and 4. Secured to the lower face of the stem 10 is aninternal ring gear 77 which is in mesh with pinion 78. A motor '79 ismounted in the base and drives through coupling 39, through gearreduction unit 81, which gear reduction unit has an upwardly extendingshaft 82 on which is positioned pinion gear 7 8.

The electrical circuits are housed in conduits 83 and 84 which conduitspass into the interior of the rotary table and up to slip ringcommutator 56, which is arranged to transfer the current from thestationary base member through brushes B in a manner well known in theart.

A housing 85 is provided for enclosing the mechanism at the upper end ofthe stem so as to protect such mechanism.

Operation vertical axis of the stem 10.

To load the cars of the ride, the arms21 are positioned in an uprightmanner, as illus'tr-ated in FIGS. 1, 2, and it}. ously with theoccupants in the adjacent cars in back to back relation. When the carshave been loaded, these arms may be rotated in the manner as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12 until the loaded cars are above the ride with theoccupants of adjacent cars face to'face, as illustrated in the upperportion of P16. 10. At this point brake lever 52 may be actuated to holdthe arms in the upright position until the four lowermost cars arelikewise loaded. it is to be pointed out that the adjacent cars on eachend of each arm face in outward directions at thelower positions, andwhen the arms begin to ascend, the leading car swings about asillustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12 and the lower car swings-below, as thearms 21 rotate about the horizontal axis15, the adjacent cars on eachend of each arm literally rotate about each other in an orbit, with allthe cars rotating about axis 15 as asecond axis. Then by rotating thevertical stem 10 about a vertical axis, the arms and cars are rotatedabout a third orbit rotary movement.

With the stem rotating about a vertical axis andthe arms 21 rotatingabout a horizontal axis, the speed thereof can be varied during eachmovement to give a variation of speeds and movements, however, it may bepointed out that by moving the arms at a speed of one to one with therotation of the stem 10, the path of the end of the arm will describe apattern somewhat similar to the pattern of the stitching on a baseballcover, however, the

: cars 31 describe separate andindependent orbital move- .rnents whichwill lie-generated in cycloidal and epicycloidal patterns by therotation of the arms.

In this manner four cars can be loaded simultane- By having the fluiddrive 38 interposed between the motor 37 and gear reduction unit 39,this enables the motor to be started across the line and the fluidcoupling will give a gradual starting action to the arms, which gradualstarting action is characteristic of fluid coupling drives. Brake bands63 and 71 are positioned around the respective brake drums 64 and 72 andwith both brake bands connected through a singletree to a common brakecable 58, the braking system is established. A weak brake return spring62 is positioned on brake band 63 and a strong brake return spring 73 ispositioned on brake band 71 and in this manner, upon the application ofbrake lever 52, brake cables 51 and 58 will be tightened and brake band63 will stop or slow motor shaft 65, yet the inertia of the, arms 21will cause driven shaft 66 .to rotate, rotating the impeller Within thefluid coupling 38 to impinge the fluid in a manner so as to retard shaft66 in approximately the same proportion as it was originally acceleratedby the starting of the motor 37. This will obviate shock to thepassengers of the cars and to the machinery of the ride as well asalleviate strain on the various parts due to the inertia of the arms andthe load thereon.

In the moving of brake lever 52 to a position to cause brake band 63 tolock brake drum 64, only a portion of the travel of the brake lever willbe used, so upon further movement of the lever, spring 68 will bethoroughly compressed and brake lever 76, to which band 71 is connected,will move against tension of stout spring 73 to engage brake drum 72, soas to cause a slowing or positive stopping of arms 21. With the brakelever 52 in a position to fully engage brake band 71 the arm 21 can beheld fixed in any position, whether the stem is rotating or not.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. In an amusementriding device, a base, an upright standard mounted on said base, atransversely disposed shaft mounted on said standard a spaced distanceabove said base, said transversely disposed shaft having a pair of armsmounted thereon and extending in opposite di rections therefrom forrotation about the axis of said shaft, pairs of cars, a pair of saidcars being pivotally mounted on parallel axes on each outer end of therespective arms, the respective cars of each said pair of cars eingfreely journaled to pivot about said parallel axes and adapted to facein opposite directions and having said parallel axes spaced apart andbeing parallel to said transversely disposed shaft mounted on saidstandard and lying in a plane which is perpendicular to a plane passingthrough the axis of said transversely disposed shaft mounted on saidstandard, and means for rotating said arms about the axis of said shaft.

2. In an amusement riding device, a base, an upright standard mounted onand rising above said base, a transversely disposed shaft mounted onsaid upright standard a spaced distance above said base, at least onearm mounted on said transversely disposed shaft for rotation about theaxis thereof, a car pivotally mounted near the outer end of said arm,power means, a fluid coupling interposed between and connected indriving relation between said power means and said arm for rotating saidarm about the axis of said shaft, brake applying means, a brake elementinterposed between said power means and said fluid coupling for applyingbraking action to said arm through said fluid coupling by impinging thefluid in said fluid coupling, which brake element is operably connectedto said brake applying means, a second brake element interposed betweensaid fluid coupling and said arm for applying positive braking action tosaid arm, said brake applying means'also being operatively connected tosaid second mentioned brake element for applying braking action theretoafter applying braking action to said first mentioned braking element tofurther retard the rotation of said arm.

3. In an amusement riding device, a base, an upright standard mounted onsaid base, a horizontal, transversely disposed shaft mounted on saidstandard a spaced distance above said base, a lateral arm mounted onsaid transversely disposed shaft for rotation about the axis of saidshaft and extending outwardly from the axis thereof, pivot members,having a pair of parallel axes, mounted on said arm near the outer endthereof, said respective axes of said pivot members on said arm beingequidistant from the axis of said horizontal, transversely disposedshaft.

and being parallel thereto, the axes of said pivot members being spacedapart less than the radial distance between said horizontal transverselydisposed shaft and the axis of either of said pivot members, cars freelyjournaled on said pivot members, one on each of said parallel axes forrotation about the respective axes thereof and about each of the otherof said axes, and means for rotating said arm about the axis of saidhorizontal transversely disposed shaft.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said cars mounted on saidpivots face in opposite directions, when said arm is rotated about theaxis of said horizontal transversely disposed shaft, the passengers inthe respective cars on said arm will face each other during a portion ofthe travel of said arm and will face away from each other during theother portion of the travel of said arm.

5. In an amusement riding device a base, an upright standard mountedonsaid base, a horizontally disposed shaft mounted on said standard aspaced distance above aid base, a hub mounted near each end of saidhorizontally disposed shaft, each of said hubs having opposed socketsformed therein, an arm fitted in each of said opposed sockets andextending radially outward therefrom, a T- member, having a bar portion,mounted on the distal end of each arm, the bar portion of which T-memberextends outward in each direction from said distal ends of Said arms ata right angle thereto and to a plane passing longitudinally through saidarm and through the axis of said horizontally disposed shaft, which barportions of the respective T-members each has a pivot member near eachouter end thereof, the axes of which pivot members are horizontallydisposed and are in parallel relation to each other and with saidhorizontally disposed shaft, the axes of which pivot members are spacedapart a distance to pivotally receive a car between pairs of said pivotmembers for simultaneous, unimpeded rotation of said cars about saidrespective parallel axes, and means for rotating said arms about theaxis of said horizontally disposed shaft mounted on said standard.

6. In an amusement riding device, a base, an upright standard mounted onsaid base, a horizontal, transversely disposed shaft mounted on saidstandard a spaced distance above said base, an outstanding radial armmember mounted on said shaft near each end thereof for rotation aboutthe axis of said horizontal, transversely disposed shaft, pairs ofparallel, horizontally disposed, axially aligned pivot members mountedon each of said arms with the axes of said pivot members being spacedapart less than the radial distance between said horizontal,transversely disposed shaft and the axis of a pair of axially alignedpivot members, a car freely journaled on each pair of said horizontallydisposed, axially aligned pivot members for rotation about the axis ofthe respective pivot members, and means for rotating said arms aboutsaid axis of said horizontal, transversely disposed shaft.

7. In an amusement riding device, a base, an upright, rotatable standardmounted on said base, a horizontal, transversely disposed shaft mountedon said standard a spaced distance above said base, a pair of armsmounted on an end of said horizontal, transversely disposed shaft andextending in opposite directions therefrom, which arms are adapted torotate about the axis of said shaft, pairs of pivot members mounted nearthe outer end of each said arms, the axes of each said pair of pivotmembers being parallel, said respective parallel axes of said pivot mem-Q bers on each said arms being equidistant from the axis of saidhorizontal, transversely disposed shaft and being parallel thereto, theaxes of said pivot members being spaced apart less than the radialdistance between said horizontal, transversely disposed shaft and theaxis of either of said pivot members, cars freely journaled on saidpivot members, one on each of said parallel axes for rotation about therespective axes thereof and about the other of the parallel axes on therespective ends of each arm and about the axis of said horizontal,transversely disposed shaft mounted on said standard, means for rotatingsaid arms about the axis of said horizontal, transversely disposedshaft, and means for rotating said standard.

8. In an amusement riding device, a base, an upright standard mounted onsaid base, a transversely disposed shaft mounted on said' uprightstandard a spaced distance above said base, said transversely disposedshaft having an arm mounted near each outer end thereof, said armsextending in opposite directions from said transversely disposed shaft,a transverse frame member extending outward in opposite directions fromeach outer end of each arm at a right angle to each said arm, each saidtransverse frame member on each said arm having a pivot member on eachend thereof, the axes of which pivot members are in parallel relationwith said transversely disposed shaft, 2. car pivotally mounted on eachof said pivot members so the pivotal axis of the respective cars aresubstantially parallel and are parallel with the axis of saidtransversely disposed shaft, and means for rotating said arms about theaxis 'of said transversely disposed shaft.

9. An amusement riding device as defined in claim 8, wherein said meansfor rotating said arms about the axis of said transversely disposedshaft rotates said arms in opposite directions.

10. In an amusement riding device, a base, an upright standard rotatablymounted on said base, a horizontally disposed shaft mounted on saidstandard a spaced distance above said base, at least one arm mounted onsaid horizontally disposed shaft for rotation about the axis of saidshaft, a pair of cars, said cars being freely pivotally mounted onspaced apart parallel axes on said arm near an outer end thereof whichparallel axes are parallel to said shaft and are spaced apart at leastthe amount of the greatest length of said cars, which length is taken ona plane passing through the pivot mounting points of said cars, therespective cars of each of said pairs being adapted to be positioned toface in opposite directions, means for rotating said arm about the axisof said shaft, and means for rotating said horizontally disposed shaftabout the axis of said upright standard.

11. In an amusement riding device, a base, an upright standard rotatablymounted on said base, a horizontally disposed shaft mounted on saidupright standard a spaced distance above said base, said horizontallydisposed shaft having an arm mounted thereon near each end thereof forrotation of said arms about the axis of said horizontally disposedshaft, pair of cars being pivotally mounted on spaced parallel axes, oneof said cars being pivotally mounted on each of said spaced parallelaxes near the outer end of the respective arms, which parallel axes areparallel to said horizontally disposed shaft mounted on said standard,means for rotating said arms about the axis of said shaft, and means forrotating said transversely disposed shaft about the axis of said uprightstandard.

12. In an amusement riding device as defined in claim 11 wherein saidmeans for rotating said arms about the axis of said horizontallydisposed shaft rotates said arms in opposite directions simultaneouslywith the rotation of said upright standard.

13. In an amusement riding device, a base, an upright standard rotatablymounted on said base, a horizontally disposed shaft mounted on saidupright standard a spaced distance above said base, said horizontallydisposed shaft having an arm mounted near each end thereof for rotationabout the axis of said horizontally disposed shaft,

pairs of cars, said cars being freely pivotally mounted on spaced apart,parallel axes near each outer end of said arms, which parallel axes areparallel to said horizontally disposed shaft mounted on said standard,means for rotating said arms about the axis of said shaft, and means forrotating said horizontally disposed shaft about the axis of saidstandard, said car pivots being spaced apart transversely of said arms agreater distance than the length of the respective cars and less thanthe distance from the axis of said horizontally disposed shaft to theaxis of any of said ears to enable said cars to freely rotate abouttheir re'spectiveaxes.

14. In an amusement riding device, a base, an upright standard mountedon said base, a horizontal shaft mounted on said standard a spaceddistance above said base, an arm member mounted on said horizontal shaftfor rotation about the axis of said shaft, a pair of parallel,horizontally disposed pivot members mounted on each of saidzarnis andspaced apart less than the radial distance between said horizontal shaftand one of said pivot members, the axes of said pivot members beingparallel with respect to said horizontal shaft, a car freely journaledon each of said horizontally disposed pivot members for rotation aboutthe respective axes thereof, said pair of horizontally disposed pivotmembers being spaced apart a distance geater than the maximum length ofone of said cars, and means for rotating said arms about said axis ofsaid horizontal shaft.

15. In a passenger car support member for an amusement riding device, anupstanding support member, a horizontal member forming a horizontal axismounted on said upstanding support member to support said horizontalmember a spaced distance above the ground, a hub mounted on saidhorizontal member for rotation about the axis of said horizontal member,an arm mounted on said hub for rotation therewith, a lateral membermounted near the outer end of said arm and lying in a plane at a rightangle to a medial plane taken longitudinally through said arm, a pair ofspaced apart axles forming pivots mounted on said lateral member nearthe distal ends thereof, with the axes of said pivots being in parallelrelation to each other and being in parallel relation with saidhorizontal axis of said hub, cars freely journaled on said axles formingsaid pivots, one on each of said parallel axes for rotation about therespective axes thereof and about the adjacent car on the other of saidparallel axes upon rotation of said arm about said horizontal axis, saidpair of pivots being spaced apart less than the radial distance betweenthe horizontal axis of said hub and the axis of one of said axles, whichspaced apart distance of said pivots is greater than the maximum lengthof one of said cars.

16. An amusement ride car supporting apparatus as dedefined in claim 15;wherein said lateral member is tubular, an outstanding tubular socketbeing secured mediate the ends of said lateral tubular member, whichsocket is adapted to receive an end of said arm therein, and meansattachably securing said outstanding tubular member to said arm so as toform a T-menrber.

17. A passenger car suport member for an amusement riding devicecomprising; an upstanding support member, a horizontal member forming ahorizontal axis mounted on said upstanding support member to supportsaid horizontal member a spaced distance above the ground, a hub mountedon said horizontal member for rotation about the axis of said horizontalmember, an arm mounted on said hub for rotation therewith, a pair ofspaced apart lateral members, an outstanding member secured to each ofsaid lateral members mediate the ends thereof and perpendicular thereto,means attachably securing said outstanding members to said arm near theouter end thereof so said lateral members will be positioned at a rightangle to a medial plane taken longitudinally through said arm, a .pairof spaced apart, axially aligned axles forming pivot members on saidlateral members near the respective dis- I tal ends thereof, the axes ofsaid pivot members being in parallel relation to each other and being inparallel relation with said horizontal axis of said hub, said pivot members of each pair of axially aligned pivot members being spaced apartsufliciently to journal a car therebetween, a car freely journaled oneach axially aligned pair of pivot members for rotation about therespective axes of said pivot members and about the adjacent car on theother of said parallel axes upon rotation of said arm about saidhorizontal axis, said axially aligned pivot members on said lateralmembers being spaced apart a distance less than the radial distancebetween the horizontal axis of said hub and the axis of one of saidaxles, which spaced apart distance of said pivots is greater than themaxium length of one of said cars.

18. In a passenger car support member for an amusement riding device, anupstanding support member, a horizontal member forming a horizontal axismounted on said upstanding support member to support said horizontalmember a spaced distance above the ground, a hub mounted on saidhorizontal member for rotation about the axis of said horizontal member,an arm comprising at least two outwardly extending members secured inspaced apart relation, said members comprising said am being attachablyconnected to said hub for rotation therewith, said members comprisingsaid arm lying in a plane, which plane passes longitudinally throughsaid members and through the axis of said hub, two lateral membersrigidly secured together in spaced apart relation, a socket membersecured perpendicular to each of said lateral members mediate the lengththereof and extending outwardly from the respective lateral members inthe same direction, which socket members register with the outer ends ofthe respective members forming said arms which members are receivedtherein and attachably secured thereto, a pair of spaced apart axlesforming pivots on each of said lateral members near the distal endthereof, the axes of said pivots being in parallel relation and being inparallel relation with the horizontal axis of said hub, said pivots onrespective adjacent ends of said lateral members being axially aligned,which pivots extend inward toward each other a distance less thanone-half the distance between said lateral members, a car freelyjournaled on said pivots, one on each of said parallel axes for rotationabout the respective axis thereof and about the adjacent car on theother of said parallel axes upon rotation of said arm about saidhorizontal axis, said pairs of spaced apart axes of said pivots on saidrespective lateral members being spaced apart less than the radialdistance between the horizontal axis of said hub and the axis 01' one ofsaid pivots, which spaced apart distance between said pivots is greaterthan the maximum length of one of said cars.

19. An amusement ride supporting apparatus as defined in claim 18,wherein said axles on said lateral members have the adjacent ends ereofspaced apart a distance to pivotally mount a passenger car thereon andtherebetween for swinging movement of said car therebetween when saidcars are arranged in tandem relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS809,937 Friede Ian. 16, 1966 1,601,661 Watson Sept. 28, 1926v 2,158,073Keith et al May 16, 1939 2,513,607 Webb July 4, 1950 2,728,573 ColemanDec. 27, 1955 2,828,128 Castille Mar. 25, 1958

